hit a two-out, game-tying homer in the sixth. T

hit a two-out, game-tying homer in the sixth. T

HOUSTON -- After turning the tables on the Cubs by producing a pitching performance on Saturday essentially equal to what Chicago managed in the series opener on Friday night, the Astros set the stage for a rubber match that will not only determine the winner of their final interleague series of the season, but also potentially establish the tone for the final three weeks of their postseason push.The Astros (75-67) snapped a three-game skid with a 2-1 win Saturday, relying on four hitless innings from their four-headed, right-handed bullpen monster of Chris Devenski, Will Harris, Luke Gregerson and Ken Giles, and the continuing emergence of rkie infielder Alex Bregman, who bashed his eighth homer to give Houston a lead it would not relinquish.Much was made of the Astros 13-game stretch against first-place teams, and while they have four more games remaining before completing that arduous run on the schedule, their effort over the last six games indicates the Astros are invested.We know whats ahead of us: Its a race to as many wins as we can get, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I dont know whats going to happen with the teams ahead of us. We can all predict what we think is going to happen based on schedules and things like that but we need as many wins as we can get. I dont care if were playing a last-place team right now or a first-place team. Theres a sense of urgency that our guys feel that we know we need to win.Right-hander Mike Fiers (10-6, 4.29 ERA) will start the series finale for the Astros against Chicago. Fiers is 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA over five games (four starts) against the Cubs, including a 6-1 win at Wrigley Field on May 2, 2015, in which he recorded 12 strikeouts while allowing one run in six innings while pitching for the Brewers.The Cubs (90-51) will counter with right-hander Jake Arrieta (16-6, 2.84 ERA), who will be making his first career appearance against the Astros. Excluding the Cubs, Houston is the only team Arrieta (2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in four interleague starts this season) has yet to face in his career.Despite the loss on Saturday, the Cubs were rewarded by another strong defensive effort from shortstop Javier Baez, who was stellar at third base in the series opener.Baez cut down George Springer at the plate for the final out of the seventh inning with a precise relay throw from right fielder Jason Heyward to catcher Willson Contreras, who applied the tag on the ft of Springer as he dove for home plate.While playing second, short and third base, Baez has accumulated 15 defensive runs saved. Not only is he a versatile infielder, Baez is a gifted defensive presence.My asking of him has been make the routine play routinely and if its not there and you have to do something extraordinary, please by all means do that, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Baez. For the most part since weve had that conversation Ive seen him do the routine stuff routinely and he still has a flair for the dramatic. kiestore.com/Bears-Roquan-Smith-Jersey/" target="_blank">Roquan Smith Youth Jersey . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. kiestore.com/Bears-Richard-Dent-Jersey/" target="_blank">Richard Dent Jersey . The visitors tk a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. kiestore.com/Bears-Anthony-Miller-Jersey/" target="_blank">http://www.bearsrkiestore.com/Bears-Anthony-Miller-Jersey/ . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. kiestore.com/Bears-Tarik-Cohen-Jersey/" target="_blank">Tarik Cohen Bears Jersey . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. kiestore.com/Bears-David-Montgomery-Jersey/" target="_blank">David Montgomery Bears Jersey . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. DETROIT -- Alex Rios hitting prowess on Tuesday night impressed his teammate Adam Dunn. Rios tied an American League mark with six hits in a nine-inning game and the White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 11-4. "That takes people like me, two, maybe three weeks, to get six," Dunn said. Dunn hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Justin Verlander in the eighth and he hit an RBI single in his second at-bat of the seven-run inning in which the White Sox broke open a 1-1 game. The last-place White Sox, who had lost four straight, finished with a season-high 23 hits and a season high in runs. "Its a gd feeling to get a win -- those have been few and far between -- but just kind of the way we did it," Dunn said. Rios became the 32nd AL player to have six hits in a nine-inning game and the first in franchise history since Lance Johnson pulled off the feat in 1995 at Minnesota. "Its been the most fun weve had in a quite a while," Rios said. "Weve had some tough times, but it shows we havent quit." Dayan Viciedos second homer of the game helped the White Sox score seven runs in the eighth inning, and they scored three more runs in the ninth to surpass a season high for scoring. Miguel Cabrera hit his 29th homer, an impressive blast to left-centre, in the eighth inning to give him a major league high 92 RBIs and .363 batting average. He broke the franchise record for homers before the All-Star game, surpassing the total Cecil Fielder had at the break in 1990 during his 51-homer season. In the top of the eighth, Cabrera appeared to hurt his back by leaping for a high throw. "Hes not 100 per cent and thats why hes not going to take part in the home run contest," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I talked to him and we talked to the trainers, and on the trainers advice, hes not going to do it. It would be pretty ridiculous to risk that." Verlander (9-6) gave up a season-high 12 hits, five runs and struck out three to match a season low in seven-plus innings. "Just one of those days that happens at this level, at this time of the year," he said. "Felt gd, but just wasnt able to execute there in the eighth." Rios singled in the first, tripled in the third and also singled twice in the eighth inning. He also singled in the fifth and ninth innings. "Hes as gd as anybody in this league," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Tonight is indicative of that. Hes hitting and runnning the bases great.dddddddddddd" Rios hit his first single in the eighth inning and stole second and scored on Dunns 24th homer that put the White Sox ahead 3-1. The White Sox followed with two straight singles to end Verlanders night after 112 pitches. The All-Star won his previous start, pitching seven scoreless innings in a win over Toronto, after giving up 12 runs in his previous three outings. Jose Quintana (4-2) gave up three runs and six hits over eight innings, winning for the first time since May 21. "Im really happy for Q," Dunn said. "Hes pitched so gd for us, and we just havent been able to score runs. Obviously, we havent scored runs for all our pitchers, but him and (Chris) Sale for sure." Viciedo had the first multihomer game of his four-year career. His second home run, a three-run shot, came on the second pitch Al Alburquerque threw in an outing that didnt last an inning. Alburquerque retired just two batters and gave up three runs and four hits. Phil Coke replaced Alburquerque with two outs, and gave up another hit. Quintana didnt have much trouble keeping the AL Central-leading Tigers quiet at the plate. Detroit didnt make the most of an opportunity with two runners in scoring position and one out in the second. Quintana got out of the jam by striking out Matt Tuiasosopo and Hernan Perez. Verlander stranded runners at second and third by striking out Dunn in the fifth. In the home half, Tuiasosopo sent a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall to give Detroit a 1-0 lead. Viciedo hit a two-out, game-tying homer in the sixth. The White Sox had a runner on in the seventh, and wasted a chance to score a go-ahead run because Alejando De Aza ran toward second when Alexei Ramirez popped up in foul territory to Prince Fielder, who threw the ball to Verlander at first base for a double play. Detroits Don Kelly hit a solo homer in the ninth. NOTES: Detroit put 2B Omar Infante on the 15-day disabled list and Perez, recalled from Double-A Erie, started in his place. Infante hasnt played since last Wednesday, when he was hit hard by Torontos Colby Rasmus, who was sliding into second base. He is expected to be OK after the All-Star break. ... White Sox RHP Jake Peavy, on the DL since June 6 with a broken left rib, pitched in a simulated game on Tuesday. ... Detroit DH Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... The game started after a 38-minute rain delay. ' ' '